Pope Francis: A man on a mission

Walking in the footsteps of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis spent time at a center for the physically and mentally challenged, engaging each person he met. The Pope also visited a soup kitchen. NBC’s Anne Thompson reports.

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>>>a history-making visit as pope
francis
visited the birthplace of
st. francis
in assissi, italy. when the pope took the name
francis
, the first to do so, he was sending a message about refocusing the search and serving the poor. he delivered that unmistakable message again today and nbc's
anne thompson
is traveling with him.

>> reporter: pope
francis
is a man on a mission. today walking in the footsteps of his namesake
st. francis of assissi
who gave up wealth to serve the poor. the same mission this pope wants for the
catholic church
he leads. today
francis
lingered taking time to reach back to many reaching out to him. his first stop, a center for the physically and mentally challenged, engaging each person he met. the pope chose to have lunch at a
soup kitchen
. led to the table by a child for a meal of lasagna and roast beef. 60 people a day are served here. where did the pope sit?

>>he was sitting there.

>> reporter: he says the pope ate little, but his presence made those who society often ignores feel important.

>>he don't speak a lot. he listened.

>> reporter: in the same room where eight centuries ago
st. francis
re announced his wealth, pope
francis
remembered the hundreds of people feared dead in yesterday's ship wreck off the coast of sicily. this, he said, was a day to cry and a day to call the church to be more simple like
st. francis
. in assissi, there are signs of worldliness, many bearing the pope's efface. here, tourism is a well oiled machine. this is one of italy's most popular destinations, profiting from pilgrims and nonbelievers alike. caught up in the enthusiasm of the day this couple from philadelphia.

>>the love coming from the people for this pope is amazing.

>> reporter: a poll shows american catholics back the pope's determination to change the focus of the church. something he pressed ahead with this week helped by eight hand-picked cardinals. at the
end of the day
, this pope, revived by the people as he worked to revive the church.
anne thompson
, nbc news, assissi.